Senate Public Health opened a hearing March 21 on Senate Resolution 10, which would confirm gubernatorial appointees to the Montana Board of Alternative Health Care.

The governor's office and licensing officials urged confirmation of the nominees and provided background on the board's current composition. Hannah Slusser, representing the governor's office, told the committee, “the MCA for the board included in your packet, is a little outdated,” and said legislative changes in 2023 added two acupuncturists and restaggered terms to avoid multiple expirations in the same year.

Kevin Bragg, bureau chief for professional licensing at the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, also voiced support and asked the committee to confirm the listed members. Several nominees and current board members testified in support of confirmations. Licensed naturopath Alisun Bonville described her practice in Bozeman and said she has served on the board since February 2019. Public member Holly Simonson said she has worked as a registered nurse in rural Montana since 1996 and has served on the board since early 2024.

Sarah Swanson, commissioner at the Department of Labor and Industry, described the board's place within state occupational licensing and reiterated support. “Title 37 and occupational licensure lives at the Department of Labor and Industry in Montana,” she said, noting there are “29 unique occupational licensing boards” within the department.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about attendance and motivation to serve; Bonville said she wants to “help our state do that” and support safe naturopathic practice. No formal vote was taken; Chair Lentz said the committee would “consider this, probably next week.”

The hearing record includes written testimony supplied by nominees who could not attend in person; the committee closed the hearing without taking final action.

The matter will return to the committee for consideration at a later date.